Virtualization.com

News and insights from the vibrant world of virtualization and cloud computing

Citrix Systems

Earnings: Citrix’ Q2 2009

by Leave a Comment

Citrix today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 ended June 30, 2009.  In the second quarter of fiscal 2009, Citrix achieved revenue of $393 million, compared to $392 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2008.

Non-GAAP net income in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 was $72 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to $71 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, in the comparable period last year.

Non-GAAP net income excludes the effects of amortization of intangible assets primarily related to business combinations and stock-based compensation expense and the tax effects related to those items. In addition, Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter of 2009 excludes charges recorded in connection with the restructuring program that the company implemented in January 2009, and the tax effects related to those items.

In reviewing the second quarter results for 2009, compared to the second quarter of 2008:

  • Product license revenue decreased 15 percent;
  • Revenue from license updates grew 9 percent;
  • Online services revenue grew 18 percent;
  • Technical services revenue, which is comprised of consulting, education and technical support, grew 3 percent;
  • Revenue increased in the America’s region by 3 percent, decreased in the EMEA region by 12 percent, and decreased in the Pacific region by 4 percent;
  • Deferred revenue totaled $538 million, compared to $476 million on June 30, 2008;
  • GAAP operating margin was 10 percent for the quarter, and non-GAAP operating margin was 22 percent for the quarter, excluding the effects of amortization of intangible assets primarily related to business combinations, stock-based compensation expense and costs associated with the restructuring program;
  • Cash flow from operations was $86 million; and
  • The company repurchased 1.3 million shares at an average price of $30.32.

During the second quarter of 2009, Citrix:

  • Announced the availability of the Citrix Receiver application on the Apple App Store. The app gives iPhone and iPod touch users access to their Windows applications and documents from anywhere;
  • Unveiled Citrix NetScaler VPX, a new software-based virtual appliance version of its industry-leading NetScaler MPX hardware appliance product line;
  • Announced upgrades to Citrix Essentials for XenServer and Hyper-V that adds advanced virtualization management capabilities to two of the industry’s fastest growing virtualization platforms;
  • Announced nCore technology that allows its high-end Citrix NetScaler appliances to deliver rich Web 2.0 applications and cloud services for more users with no new hardware investments required;
  • Announced the addition of three new appliance models to its powerful Citrix NetScaler product line – NetScaler MPX 9500, MPX 7500 and MPX 5500;
  • Announced that LG-Nortel will distribute the Citrix NetScaler product line to enterprise customers in the Korean market; and
  • Unveiled Citrix Dazzle – a self-service “storefront” for enterprise applications. Dazzle gives corporate employees 24×7 self-service access to a broad array of applications, desktops and content, allowing them to choose exactly what they need, when they need it.

Release: Free ‘Express’ Version Of Citrix Essentials for Microsoft Hyper-V

by 1 Comment

Citrix has unveiled a new free Express Edition to its Citrix Essentials for Microsoft Hyper-V lineup. The new Express Edition is immediately available for download and includes Citrix StorageLink technology. With StorageLink, Windows administrators can dramatically simplify their storage management processes with quick and easy storage configuration and provisioning for their Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and System Center virtual infrastructures. Citrix Essentials helps administrators take full advantage of powerful storage-based features like deduplication, thin provisioning, cloning, snapshots and replication – features that otherwise hide behind layers of proprietary, specialized virtualization storage file systems.

The new free Express Edition of Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V is designed specifically for Windows IT professional in the early phases of Hyper-V adoption. It will allow them to take advantage of the benefits of shared storage with Hyper-V and simplify storage management in virtual server environments.
The StorageLink technology featured in all editions of Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V provides Windows IT Professionals with the tools necessary to easily manage Hyper-V storage in iSCSI and Fibre Channel (FC) SAN environments, enabling them to leverage advanced storage technologies from leading storage vendors that deliver powerful features for performance, storage efficiency, and business continuity. Industry estimates have shown that by applying storage-saving technologies like deduplication and thin provisioning , Hyper-V customers can often shrink their storage footprint by upwards of 50 percent depending on the nature of their workloads. In cases where virtual machines (VMs) are highly duplicated, like virtual desktop images, many have seen a nearly 90 percent reduction in storage consumption.

The Express Edition of Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V supports up to two Hyper-V servers and one storage array. Organizations that download the free Express Edition of Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V can easily upgrade to the Enterprise or Platinum Editions. Listed at $1500 and $3000 per server, respectively, the Enterprise and Platinum Editions add dynamic server provisioning, automated lab management, automated stage management, and workflow orchestration.

Release: Citrix Provisioning Services 5.1

by Leave a Comment

Citrix has released the latest version of Citrix Provisioning Services, version 5.1.  The product also had a name change, now called “Services” as opposed to “Server” to better reflect what PVS really does.

You can download Citrix Provisioning Services from the Citrix Downloads section.

Here is a list of whats new in this Release:

  • Standard Image Mode NIC Teaming
    Ability to use NIC teaming drivers for Broadcom and Intel NICs to setup ‘teams’
    on PVS Target devices.
  • Offline vDisk Maintenance
    Ability to boot PVS VHD files directly within Windows Virtual Server and Hyper-V.
  • User Assigned Virtual Disks
    vDisks are assigned to existing user groups rather than machines.
  • Offline DB Support
    Ability for PVS to continue to boot and run Target devices if the database
    becomes unavailable.
  • Multiple Partition vDisks
    Ability to create vDisks that include multiple partitions (e.g. both a C: and D:
    drive).
  • Server Maintenance Mode
    Ability to initiate failover of all Target devices attached to a particular PVS Server
    to other servers in the PVS farm.
  • Enhanced Logging
    Enhancements to our current logging both on the server and the Target devices.
  • Auditing
    Ability to keep a log of actions performed by system administrators.
  • Read-only vDisk Storage
    Modifications that allow a vDisk to be stored on a read-only file system.
  • XP Embedded Streaming
    Ability to provision MS Windows XP Embedded

Citrix Releases XenServer 5.5

by Leave a Comment

Citrix yesterday announced the availability of Citrix XenServer 5.5, a new upgrade that it says raises the bar once again for “free, enterprise-class virtualization”.

Today’s announcement comes just 75 days after Citrix changed the game in server virtualization by making XenServer available for unlimited production deployment at no charge. Unlike basic hypervisors that have been free for years, XenServer sets an entirely new standard for free virtualization with powerful features such as centralized multi-node management, built-in storage and full live motion.

In the short period of time since its release, more than 100,000 customers have downloaded XenServer from hundreds of download sites in over 50 countries worldwide with overwhelmingly positive feedback. The new XenServer 5.5 release, available for download today, provides these customers even more value by adding a wide range of new enterprise management capabilities at no additional charge.

The XenServer 5.5 release available for download today adds a wide range of new features that enable easier virtualization management and broader integration with enterprise systems. The latest version now includes features such as consolidated backup, enhanced conversion and search tools, Active Directory integration and expanded guest support for virtually every version of Windows and Linux operating systems. With the new 5.5 release, XenServer provides all the functionality that typically costs up to $5,000 per server with other leading virtualization products.

Also available today is the new 5.5 release of Citrix Essentials for XenServer and Hyper-V, providing advanced virtualization management capabilities for customers using Citrix XenServer or MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 Hyper-V.  Citrix Essentials 5.5 enhances both of these high-growth virtualization platforms by adding expanded storage integration, automated lab and stage management and dynamic workload balancing.

In addition to the availability of the 5.5 product releases, Citrix also today announced the XenServer Central community website, a new resource for all things XenServer to help users enhance their use of the free enterprise-ready virtualization platform.  The XenServer Central website will feature the latest product information, tips and tricks, access to the Citrix KnowledgeCenter and web-based support forums. Offers from Citrix Ready partners for free or discounted licenses for complementary products will also be featured, as well as the latest XenServer content on CitrixTV, Twitter and the blogosphere.

XenServer Central will go live on June 19 at http://www.citrix.com/xenservercentral.

The new XenServer 5.5 release is immediately available for download here. Citrix Essentials 5.5 for XenServer and Hyper-V are also available immediately for purchase or a 30-day trial version on this website.  Suggested pricing for Citrix Essentials starts at $2,500 per server, regardless of the number of processors.

Citrix Leads $10 Million Investment In Vyatta

by 1 Comment

Vyatta today announced it has completed its $10 million Series C round of financing led by Citrix Systems. The new funding round also includes existing investors, Comcast Interactive Capital, Panorama Capital, and ArrowPath Venture Partners. As part of the investment, Gordon Payne, senior vice president and general manager of the Delivery Systems Division at Citrix, has joined the Vyatta Board of Directors where he will assist the company in its next phase of development.

Today, Vyatta also announced that it has joined the Citrix Ready product verification program to create solutions for customers deploying cloud computing infrastructures.

Vyatta will use the funds for operating capital as the company scales its sales efforts and accelerates growth across multiple markets.

Vyatta runs on standard x86 hardware and can be virtualized with modern hypervisors, including the Citrix XenServer™ virtualization platform. Vyatta delivers a full set of networking features that allow customers to connect, protect, virtualize, and optimize their networks, improving performance, reducing costs, and increasing manageability and flexibility over proprietary networking solutions. Vyatta has been deployed by hundreds of customers world-wide in both virtual and non-virtual environments.

Citrix Synergy 2009: The Highlights

by Leave a Comment

Citrix Synergy 2009 is over, and while we couldn’t attend ourselves, we’ve been closely watching the announcements that came out of the event. Here are some of the highlights, from across the web:

– “Citrix Project Independence is now XenClient and will be free” (Virtualization.info):

During his opening keynote at the Citrix Synergy 2009, Mark Templeton announced that the much discussed Project Independence (developed in collaboration with Intel) is now called XenClient, and that Citrix will offer it for free.

And from VMBlog:

– Citrix Education Announces Advanced Certifications for Virtualization and Offers Customers New Online, Hands-On Training and Practice Labs

– Citrix Upgrades Server Virtualization Product Lines for Both XenServer and Hyper-V

Citrix announced a significant new upgrade to Citrix Essentials for XenServer and Hyper-V, the recently announced product line that adds advanced virtualization management capabilities to two of the industry’s fastest growing virtualization platforms. The new 5.5 version of Citrix Essentials helps customers of both of these high-growth platforms achieve more manageable, scalable and agile datacenters by providing open technologies that leverage their existing investments in the most efficient way possible. Citrix also announced a new 5.5 version of Citrix XenServer that raises the bar once again for free, enterprise-class virtualization, adding a wide range of new features that enable easier management and broader integration with enterprise systems.

– Citrix Expands Citrix C3 Cloud Computing Platform and Program

Citrix Systems announced a variety of new offerings for its Citrix Cloud Center (Citrix C3) product family to further equip service providers with the infrastructure and product licensing needed to deliver successful clouds services to their customers.

– Citrix Receiver Makes Accessing Virtual Desktops and Apps as Easy as Turning on Your TV and the Receiver iPhone application is now also available in the App Store.

Citrix announced the general availability of Citrix® Receiver – a new lightweight software client that makes accessing virtual desktops and applications on any device as easy as turning on your TV. Much like a satellite or cable TV receiver in a broadcast media service, Citrix Receiver allows IT organizations to deliver desktops and applications as an on-demand service to any device in any location with a rich “high-definition” experience.

– Citrix Dazzle Puts the Personal Back in Computing

Citrix Systems took a major step toward transforming IT into an on-demand service with the introduction of Citrix Dazzle – the first self-service “storefront” for enterprise applications. Dazzle gives corporate employees 24×7 self-service access to a broad array of applications, desktops and content, allowing them to choose exactly what they need, when they need it.